Rec Briefs: UVTA All Set — and So Is the Ice — for Skate-a-Thon

Ty Couture, 5, of South Royalton, center, yells as he skids down a shoveled line of ice while taking a break from ice fishing as John Moore, 11, of Topsham, watches, and Tyson Allen, 6, of Windsor, slides on his back during the 13th Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby on Dewey's Pond in Quechee, Vt., on Jan. 25, 2014. The group of boys took to taking turns sliding on the ice when there was a lull in the fishing action.
Valley News - Sarah Priestap

Staff Reports

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

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Fairlee — For a change, it appears the ice will be very nice for one of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance’s biggest fundraisers of the year.

The Lake Morey Skating Trail is set to host the annual UVTA Skate-a-Thon on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The trail, a 4½-mile loop, will be open for skaters to show how many laps they can complete in support of the UVTA.

All proceeds from the day go toward the UVTA’s trail construction and maintenance programs. The fee to participate brings free Nordic skate rentals (while available) along with hot chocolate, soup, a Boloco lunch and a raffle ticket for post-skating prizes.

It’ll be just the second Skate-a-Thon in four years. Events in 2015 and last year were cancelled because of poor ice conditions.

The fee for UVTA members is $20 for adults and $10 for youths (ages 12 and younger), with a $5 increase for nonmembers. All children ages 3 and younger get in for free.

For more information, visit www.uvtrails.org or call 802-649-9075.

On the Snow

Garfield Wins in Cold

Franconia, n.h. — Former Ford Sayre Ski Council athlete Phoebe Garfield outraced the field — and the frigid temperatures — to win the Dowse Memorial Slalom at Canoon Mountain over the weekend.

The race pitted the top U14 ski racers in New Hampshire and Maine. Garfield, a Meriden native now attending Maine’s Gould Academy, won by more than two seconds. Grace Lewandoski (26th) and Emily Perras (27th) had the best placements for FSSC’s girls, and Owen Smith (ninth), Connor Hamlin (16th) and Zane Schiffman (20th) topped out for the Ford Sayre boys. Waterville Valley BBTS skier Adam Radwan won the slalom.

Purcell Fourth At Gunstock

Purcell claimed fourth overall, behind three members of the Colby-Sawyer college ski team. FSA teammates Ethan Ross (eighth), Colter Lingelbach-Pierce (12th) and Matty Siegel all cracked the top 20.

Lyme’s Courtney Courture, who competes for CSC, was second in the girls race, behind only teammate Katy Harris. FSA’s Maya Holmes topped her club with a 19th-place result.

Full Moon Fiesta

Lebanon — The Lebanon Recreation and Parks Department hopes to take advantage of a clear sky and snowy trails for its Full Moon Fiesta progressive dinner at the Storrs Hill Ski Area lodge on Jan. 20.

Participants can use skis, snowboards or snowshoes to traverse a route through the area, where area restaurants will set up spots for light food and hot beverage breaks. As an eco-friendly event, those taking part are asked to reduce waste by bringing their own mugs, utensils and bowls. The event is scheduled to run from 6-8 p.m.

The cost is $10 per person for ages 13 and older, and $5 for youths ages 6-12. Children ages 5 and younger can join in at no charge. Advance registration is recommended at www.lebanonnh.gov/register; for more information, call 603-448-5121.

Storrs Hill Family Fun Night

Lebanon — The Storrs Hill Ski Area in downtown Lebanon will host a Family Fun Night on Feb. 3.

The event runs from 5:30-9 p.m. and will offer families any number of ways to enjoy the evening. The highlight will be a cardboard box race challenge against the host Lebanon Outing Club, with a family season pass up for grabs.

On top of a night for skiing and snowboarding, the evening will include grilling, a campfire, music, snow volleyball, a 50-50 raffle and dancing. The cost to participate is $30 per family.

Visit Storrs Hill’s Facebook page or www.skistorrshill.com for more information.

In the Gym

Thor’s Stone Meet

Lebanon — The Carter Community Building Association-based Thor’s Stone Athletic Club will host an Olympic weightlifting meet on Jan. 20, and the public is invited to attend.

As an official USA Weightlifting-sanctioned competition, the meet will consist of two lifts, the snatch and the clean and jerk. Competitors of both genders in the meet will range in age from 18 to 78.

The first event starts at 2:30 p.m., and there is no charge for visitors to attend. Contact Thor’s Stone founder Carl Wallin at carl.j.wallin@dartmouth.edu for more information.

On the Ice

Bantams Douse Flames

Meriden — The Hanover Bantam Green youth hockey team used a goal and an assist from Nick Lee to bust a 1-1 tie on its way to a 5-2 win over the Manchester Flames on Sunday at Kimball Union Academy.

Hank Trimble put the Wild on the board on an Andrew Duany pass. Manchester tied the game only to have Lee and Andrew Claus set up Ben Wagner’s go-ahead goal before Lee converted a Casey Graham pass for a 3-1 lead.

When the Flames got back to within a goal, Curtis Rice scored on a counterattack and Trimble added his second of the game on another Lee assist. Luke Ives made 12 saves for the victory.

On the Ice, Part Deux

Learn-to-Curl at WABA

White River Junction — With the Olympic curling tournament barely a month away in South Korea, the Upper Valley Curling Club is readying its latest learn-to-curl clinic for newcomers to the sport.

UVCC’s next learn-to session will be begin at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday at Wendell A. Barwood Arena. The club will provide all of the tools of the trade; all participants need to do is wear warm clothing and shoes with nonskid soles. The clinic starts with off-ice instruction on the rules of curling before hitting the ice for more training and a short contest, if time allows.

The cost to participate is $25 and is open to any individual age 12 and older. Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended. Email uppervalleycurling@gmail.com for more information.

In The Woods

Wright’s Mountain Visioning Workshop

Bradford, Vt. — The town will hold a public visioning workshop and open house to collect ideas on the future of the Wright’s Mountain Devils Den Town Forest from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Colatina Exit restaurant.

Bradford is one of 10 communities in Vermont to receive a Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program grant. The meeting is an opportunity for the public to share its ideas to use the grant on a range of recreation offerings Wright’s Mountain can provide in the future.

For more information, contact Nancy Jones at npj@valley.net.

With Rod and Reel

Youth Ice Fishing Derby

Quechee — The Hartford Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up for its 17th Youth Ice Fishing Derby on Dewey’s Pond on Jan. 27.

The free event, which coincides with Free Ice Fishing Day across Vermont, will run from 7 a.m.-noon.

The derby will be split into three age groups — ages 6 and younger, ages 7-10 and ages 11-14 — for prizes. Food, refreshments, fishing holes and bait will be provided, along with a limited supply of equipment.

Pre-registration is encouraged at www.hartfordrec.com. Participants also may register for the derby on the day of the event at the sign-in tent.

With a Disc

Hartford HostingIndoor Ultimate

White River Junction — The Hartford Parks and Recreation Department is bringing ultimate frisbee indoors as part of its adult play pass program.

Weekly open play for adults ages 18 and older will take place from 7-9 p.m. on Sundays at Hartford High School. Pickup play will continue weekly through March 25.

The cost to participate is $2 per person per session or $15 for a season pass. Online registration is available at www.hartfordrec.com, or call 802-295-5036 for more information.

In the Ring

Vt. Golden GlovesSeeking Entries

Essex Junction, Vt. — Entry forms are now available for amateur boxers interested in competing in next month’s Northern New England Golden Gloves boxing tournament.

The tourney will take place on two Saturday nights, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, in the Robert E. Miller Building at the Champlain Valley Expo. Both sessions begin at 7:30 p.m.

The tourney is limited to four boxers per weight class and will start with semifinal rounds in all divisions.

The tournament is open to all amateur male and female boxers between the ages of 18 and 40. The competition is split into novice and open divisions based on the number of amateur bouts fought. Novice champions at Northern New Englands advance to the New England finals in Lowell, Mass., on Feb. 8 and 15. Open champions will advance to Lowell for the New England finals on Feb. 21-22. Open division winners then can compete in the national Golden Gloves championship in Omaha, Neb., in May.

For more information or to receive an entry form, contact tournament director Ernie Farrar at enrievtboxing@hotmail.com. For ticket information or reservations, call 802-527-2936.

On the Trails

Snowshoeing at APD

Lebanon — The Lebanon Recreation and Parks Department is planning a series of showshoe hikes on trails at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital campus in February.

The hikes are scheduled for Feb. 9, 16 and 23, each running from 10 a.m.-noon. Lebanon Recreation staff will lead each group; participants are recommended to dress for winter conditions and bring a snack, water, backpack and any additional equipment.

All hikes are free of charge. Pre-registration is requested by visiting www.lebanonnh.gov/recreation or calling 603-448-5121.